Gear-shift



B. E. RICHARDSON.

GEAR SHIFT.

APPLICATION HLED JULY 24.1911.

y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

v:BAYARD E. RICHARDSON, F GRAND B AIIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 MECHANG' GEAR SHIFT COMPANY, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

cuanta-SHIFT.l

Patented Feb. 3, 1920.

' Application iled Ju1y`24,.1917. Serial No. 182,442.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, BAYARD E. R101-1annsoN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids,V in the county of Kent andState of Michigan, have in- Vented-certain new and useful Improvements in Gear-Shifts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which 'it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to mechanism for effecting the ready shifting of gears insliding gear transmissions,l it being especially adapted for application to motor vehicles. llt is an object and purpose of the invention to provide a simply constructed and effected device of this character in which, `after selection of a desired shift of gears, the neutralization of the gearing is effected on forward operation of a clutch pedal controlling the connection of the motive power to a shaft which in turn drives the rear wheels of the vehicle, while the selected shift of gears is accomplished on thereturn of the clutch pedal to its normal driving position. The inventionalso contemplates many novel and ini )roved constructions and arrangements 0i parts for attaining these and other desired ends not specifically enumerated, but which will fully appear as the description of my preferred embodiment of the invention is understood, reference being had to the accompanying drawing showing 'the saine, in which:

Figure l is a partial plan and sectional view of a sliding gear transmission equipped with my invention. V

Fig. 2 is a vertical section therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section illustrating the manually operable portion of the selecting mechanism. 4

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the rear pai-t of the housing of the selecting mechanism shown in Fig, 3,

Fig. 5 is 'a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. G is a fragmentary side elevation, somewhat enlarged, showing the operation, with 4the gear casing, for selecting a desired shift. of gearing.

.Fig 7 is an end elevation of the mechani sm mounted above the sliding gear transmission ,and showing the shifting elements anl lselector elements associated therewith an F 8 is a detail in vertical section illustrating the locking means used for holding one of thesliding yokes in central neutralA position when the other is moved away from such position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different views of the drawings. The sliding gear transmission is located Awithin a casing or housing 1, it also coveris fixed to a rock shaft 9. The mechanism4 described is all ofstandard construction, the clutch pedal being used to disconnect the crank shaft from the driving shaft on forwar movement thereof as is well understoo A gear 10 is secured at the rear end of the driving shaft 2 and is in mesh with a gear 11 on the front end vof the jack shaft 4. Two gears 12 and 13 are splined Aonthe drive shaft 3, the former of which is adapted to be moved forward to connect with a clutch element 14 integral with or secured to the gear 10 or to be moved to another position to the reanto mesh with a gear 15 on the jack shaft. Likewise gear 13 is movable to two extreme positions to engage either with the gear 16 on the jack shaft or with an idle pinion 17 which is in mesh with a gear 18 fixed at the rear end of the jack shaft. The gearing described isof well known type and construction for securing three speeds forward and one reverse as between the driving and driven shafts.

Directly above the transmission vgearing two horizontal rods 19 and 20 are slidably mounted. These rods are spaced a short distance apart and adjacent their front ends Iare provided with notches on their inner sides in which rounded ends ot' a lever 2l pivotally mounted midway between its ends seat, whereby on movement of a rod in one direction the other rod is given an equal but opposite movement. -A head 22 is fixed on the rear end of rod 2O having notch or opening in one side adapted to receiife a head 23 on the free end of a lever 24 pivotally mounted between its ends on the transmission casing l as shown. A rod 25 is connected yat its forwardend to the clutch pedal 8 and at its rear end to the other end of the lever 24. It will be noted that normally as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the head 23 is disassociated from head 22 and that on forward movement of the clutch pedal there is no engagement of heads 23 and 22 until after such time 'as the clutch has 'been fully disengaged, ordinary operation of the clutch in no respect interfering with the gearing.

A sleeve 26 is slidably mounted upon rod 19 from which depends a yoke 27 adapted to have operative connection with the slidin gear 12. Similarly, a sleeve 28 is slidab y .mounted upon rod 20 it having a depending yoke 29 operatively engaged with the sliding gear 13. The rods 19 and 20 are slidably mounted at their ends in the ends of a cover 30 to the gear casing. This cover also incloses a part of the selector mechanism and the various parts and elements of the gear shift mechanism associated with said sleeves and yokes.

From each of the sleeves 26 an integral lug or ear 31 projects upwardly to leach otl which two oppositely extending dogs 32 are pivotally connected. These dogs are ot' special 'formation with a notch such as indicated at 33 in the upper corners of the Y :free ends of said dogs and also with a. downwardly extending lip 34 which has aninclined face as shown. A member 35 is pinned to and adjacent the rear end of rod 19 within' cover 30, and extends across to and slidably mounted upon the rod 20. From this member'two ingers 36 project forward under the dogs 32 which extend to the rear fromfears 31. The member 35 at its rear edge between rods 19 and 20 is fashioned with a downwardly and-rearwardly inclined face 37 with which the forwardly inclined faces of lips 34 of the rearwardly extendinlgr dogs 32 are adapted at times to engage.

second member 38 as pinned to the rod 20 adjacent the forward portion of the heusing 30, it extending 'across and between the rods and having slidable engagement with the rod 19. It has two rearwardly extending fingers 39 similar to the fingers 36 heretofore described, and likewise extending under the forwardly extending dogs 32. Member38 is likewise formed with au inclined face 37n similar in substantially all respects 42 is seated, and midway betweenvthe ends of sleeves 26 and 28 semi-spherical recesses 43 are made which, when the gearing is at neutral position, come directly opposite each other and in direct conjunction with the ball 42 whereby on movement of either sleeve away from its'middle neutral position the ball is forced into the recess of the opposite sleeve holding it firmly against movement.`

Four members 44 are pivotally connected to the plate 40 adjacent its upper edge and midway between its ends, two on each side of the plate, each pair on each side of the plate extending in opposite directions. Each member 44 is provided with a late-ral horizontal lip 45 against which one arm of a bell crank lever 46 is adapted to bear. The ends of the members 44 lie against the upper sides of the dogs 32 and come just within the edges of the lateral extension 41 to the central plate 40. There are four of the bell crank levers 46 from the upwardly extending arms of which wires 47 project forward through an opening in the front side of cover 30 leading therefrom to theimmediate selector mechanism. The wires 47 are housed within flexible metallic or coiled wire covers 48 `all 'of which in turn are housed within a flexible steel tubing 49 which leads to and is secured to the housing of the imn'iediate selector mechanism which, preferably, will be located at some convenient place for access b v the hand of the driver ot' the vehicle. Wires 47 are at their upper ends, connected to the ends of levers 50 pivotally mounted between their ends -on post 51 located withinthe housing 52 `to which reference has heretofore been made. Four cylindrical push buttons 53 are loosely mounted in guides formed in the cover tno the housing and are provided with heads 5.4 of larger diameter which rest against the rear ends of the levers 50. The heads 54 preclude the passage of the buttons.53 upwardly through the housing.

The operation of the mechanism will now be described. 7With the gearing in neutral, sleeves 26 and 28 and attached parts are located as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the fingers 36 elevating dogs'32 to the position shown. Notehes 33 formed in the dogs permit the elevation thereotI which would otherwise be stopped by the lateral sections 41 of plate 40. It it is desired to secure a certain connection of gear, the clutch pedal is actuated thereby first disconnecting the clutch and afterward engaging-'fthe head 23 oflever 24 with the head 2Q, on rod 20, this causing members 35 and 38 to move toward the sleeves 2h and 28 to a position substantially indicated in Fig. 6, whereupon the buttons for the lselected speed may be depressed, this pulling on the associated wire 47 and through its connected bell crank lever 4G and associated member 44 depressing a dog 32 whereby the lip 34 thereon comes into engagement with the inclined shoulder 37 or 37a of one of the members 35 or 38. Un return of the clutch pedal, rods 19 and 20 are moved to their normal position such as show in Figs. l and 2, and the dog which has been depressed is pulled under the adjacent part 41, the connected sleeve and yoke being carried therewith so as to effect the desired engagement of the gears. At the same time it will be noted that the friction of the collar 48 on the wire 47 serves to hold it against re? turn and the speed selected and secured as a consequence is indicated by a depressed .which was first depressed.

button 53. 'lo shift to another speed the clutch pedal is again actuated first to disengage the clutch followed by a continued forward movement of the clutch pedal for operation of the rods 20 and 19 so as to bring the members 35 and 38 toward each other whereupon a sleeve 26 or 28 which has been moved from its central neutral. position is forced to neutral. rlhe button for the new speed selected is then depressed as before Vand the desired gear change made as before. It will be noted that the selector mechanism first operated for the first gear connection remains in the position to which it was operated during this movement but that on the return of the clutch pedal the first dog that was depressed is elevated 'by movement of the member either 35 or 38 associated therewith thereby actuating the bell crank lever 46 associated withwhich and pulling the connected wire 47 back to former position, this elevating the selector button rllhe mechanism, accordingly, in operation indicates the gear connection which is working and as soon as another gear connection is effected, automatically forces the first selector button upwardly to its normal position leaving only the button which is associated with the gear connection actually in the operation depressed. f

rlhe construction described is very simple in structure and may be very economically produced. ln this construction it will be noted that there are no springs of any character used. rihis mechanism has been used practically and is very effective in operation, the shifting of gears being readily and easily obtained thereby. Many changes in constructive detail may be resorted to without departing from my invention and i do not wish to be limited to the specific construction shown, but consider myself entitled to rality of shiftable gears, a pair of rods slidably mounted adjacent the gears, a shifting element slidably mounted on each rod and connected each to a shiftable gear, means for simultaneously reciprocating said rods in opposite directions and members fixed one to each rod and movable toward each other to engage with said shifting elements on the first reciprocatory movement of said rods to thereby bring bothshifting elements to central neutral position, substantially as de` scribed.

'2. ln a mechanism of the character described, a gear transmission including a plu rality of shiftable gears, a pair of rods slidably mounted adjacent the gears, a shifting element slidably mounted on each rod and connected each to a shiftable gear, means for simultaneously reciprocating said rods in opposite directions, a member fixed one on each rod, said members being moved toward each other on the first reciprocatory movement of said rods and engaging the shifting ele ments to bring both to central neutral position, and means to selectively engage either of said shifting elements with either of said members fixed to said rods to thereby effect a shift ot gearing on a succeeding reciprocatory movement ot said rods.

3. in a mechanism of the character described. a gear transmission including a plurality of shiftable gears, a pair of rods slidably mounted adjacent the gears, a shifting element slidably :mounted on each rod, and connected each to a sbiftable gear, a foot pedal, operative vmeans between the pedal and rods for reciprocating said rods in opposite directions with forward and return movements ot the'. pedal, and a member connected to each rd'd adapted to engage with said shifting elements on the rst reciprocatory movement of said rods to thereby bring both shitting elements to central neutral position, substantially as described.

4. in a mechanism of the character described, a gear transmission including a plurality of shiitable gears, a pair of rods slidably mounted adjacent the gears, a shifting element slidably mounted on each rod, and connected each to a shittable gear, a pivotally mounted pedal, a lever pivotally mounted between its ends, a rod connecting one end of the lever with the pedal, operative connections between said rods at one end whereby when one rod is moved in one direction, the other rod is moved in the opposite direction, one of said rods at the opposite end having a head provided with a recess in one slde thereof into which the free end ot said lever is adapted to enter to engage with the head on operation of the pedal, `and a member connected to each rod adapted to engage with said shitting elements on the Afirst reciprocatory movement ot said rods to thereby bring both shifting elements to central neutral position, substantially as described. n

` 5. ln a mechanism ot' the character described, a gear transmission including a plurality of shiftable gears, a 'pair-,oit rods slid-v ably mounted adjacent the gears, aehiting element slidably mounted on each rod and connected each to a shiitable gea'r, means for simultaneously reciprocating said rods in 0pposite directions, members ixed one to each rod and movable toward each other to engage against said shitting elements on the rst reciprocatory movement ot said rods to thereby bring both shifting elements to central neutral position, each oit said shifting elements being provided with an upstanding ear, and two dogsmounted on each ear and extending inopposite directions, said dogs' being adapted for selective engagement with said memberssecured to the rods.

6. A mechanism containing the elements in combination claimed in claim 5 combinedv With fingers' on each member extending under adjacent dogs, substantially as described. 7. A mechanism contaiirinptheV elements Aclaimed in combination in claim 5, combined Withmeans on each jmember normally extending under and.- elevating adjacent dogs,

land means to selectively depress any desired dog to engage With its associated member when said members have been moved toward each other on the first reciprocatory movement of said rods, thereby rendering said elevating means ineffective, substantially as described.

` 8. In a mechanism of the character described, a gear transmission including a plurality of shiftable gears, a shifting element for each gear, each being provided with an upstanding ear, a pair of rods slidably Vmountedadjacent the gears on which the shifting elements are slidably mounted, means for simultaneously reciprocating sa id rods in opposite directions, members fixed one on each rod and movable toward each other to engage against said shitting elements on the first reciprocatory movement of said rods to thereby bring both shiftingl elements to central neutral position, two dogs pivotally mountelY-on 'each ear ot the shifting elements and extending in opposite directions, means on each member normally eX- tending under and elevating adjacent dogs, means to selectively depress any desired dog vto engage with its associated member When said members have been moved toward each other on the tirst reciprocatory movement oit said rods, and means for holding any dog thus depressed in engagement with its assoreadme scribed, a gear transmission including a:

plurality ot shiftable gears, a pair of rods slidably mounted adjacent said gears, a shifting element slidably mounted on each rod and connected each to a shiftable gear, each of said shifting elements having an upstanding ear, means for simultaneously reciprocating said rods in opposite directions, members fixed one to each rod and movable toward each other to engage against said shifting elements on the iirst reciprocatory movement of said rods to thereby bring both .shifting elements to central neutral position,

tWo dogs pivotally mounted on each ear and extending in opposite directions, means on each member normally extending under and elevating adjacent dogs, members, one for each dog pivotally mounted at one end with `its opposite end lying againstlits associated dog, a pivotally mounted bell crank lever for each of said last mentioned` members, one arm of the lever bearing against its associated member, a Wire connected to each of the other arms of the bell crank levers, and means to impart a pull on the Wires, substantially as described. l A

ll. A.. mechanism containing the elements claimed in combination in claim 10 coinbined with 'a housing, a plurality of levers pivotally mounted between' their ends and located Within the housing, there being a lever l'for each Wire and to one end ot' each of which a Wire is connected,and a selector device for each lever bearing a ainst the opposite end of the lever an slidably mounted in and projecting through the upper side of the housing. y

12. Selector mechanism for selective sliding gear transmissions comprising a plurality of'wires'adapted to bec'onnected with the immediate selective mechanism associated with the gears, a plurality of levers, one for each vvire, one end of each lever having a Wire connected thereto, a housing for all of the levers, means for pivotally mounting the levers in the housing between the ends thereof, and a manually operated selector device for each lever bearing against the end of the lever opposite to that `at which the Wire is connected and slidably mounted in and projecting through the upper side oit the housing.

13. ln a mechanism of the character described, a gear transmission including a plurality of shiftable gears, a pair of rods rods in opposite-directions., members fixed.

one on each rod and movable toward each other to engage against the shifting elements on-the first reciprocatoryv movement of said rods to thereby bring both shifting elements to central neutral positon, means to selectively connect either shifting element to either of said members, a vertical plate disposed betwen the shifting elements having an opening therethrough, and each shifting element in its side thereof adjacent the plate being providecl'with a recess, and a ball` located in the opening in the plate, said recasses in the shifting elements bemg p0- sitioned to lie directly opposite each other and the openin in the platewhen 1n neutral position, su stantially as described.

14. In a mechanism of the character described, a sliding gear transmission including two shrftable gears, a shifting mechanism, selective means to' selectively connect 'theshifting mechanism with the gears to thereby effect the shifting of any shiftable gear in either of two directions, said selective means comprising a plurality of wires. formi-ng elements of the selective means,

andmeans whereby lany wire is operated by pulling thereon from its opposite ends "to effect a desired selection and to 'return the wire to normal neutral position on the neutralizing of the gearing, respectively, s1ib' as' described.

stantialI y 15. In a mechanism ofthe character described', a lselective mechanism'including a plurality of selector wires, av flexible cover` `ing for each wire, and a fieXible tubular casing inclosing all of the wires4 and the coverings therefor, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I laliix my signature.

Barnim E. RICHARDSON.' 

